Developers must address key concerns of locals if the battery energy storage industry is to move forward, says Peter Kavanagh, CEO of Harmony Energy.
In a blog for our sister site Energy storage.newsKavanagh wrote that while battery energy storage systems (BESS) offer significant national and global benefits, “it is equally important to support the local communities around these locations.”
“Initiatives such as improving biodiversity, community funds, charity and event sponsorship and other opportunities introduced by developers can help communities thrive alongside projects.”
To make a site financially viable, BESS must be built near substations to reduce costs, which has the added benefit of keeping energy infrastructure clustered without impacting the wider landscape.
Making yourself visible in addressing concerns is key to the sector’s progress, Kavanagh said. Explaining the reasons behind site locations and clarifying decision-making when implementing new developments is one way to address concerns a community might have about building a BESS nearby.
Kavanagh also suggested events such as public consultations, community engagement opportunities and site tours as ways to ensure local support.
Another barrier developers face are (often inflated) security issues. Kavanagh said Harmony Energy has been committed “from the beginning” to ensuring the safety of both our operational teams and surrounding communities by maintaining high health and safety standards.
Therefore, developers must demonstrate the stringent safety measures taken in any given development throughout the planning process.
Kavanagh added: “Ensuring the safety of BESS projects must be a top priority, and with the industry having more than 140 UK BESS sites operating safely and thousands living around the world, it is essential that developers and operators continue to build trust with communities.”
Peter Kavanagh’s blog is fully available on Energy storage.news.
